A List of Recycling Locations / Methods for 7 Major Organizations in Hong Kong 

Weekend Weekly Feb 5, 2025 

Chinese New Year Pastry / Poon Choi Pot / Red Packet Recycling｜Every year after the Lunar New Year, a large number of Chinese New Year items that cannot be processed immediately appear throughout Hong Kong, including food, gift boxes, Poon Choi pots, red packets, etc. In order to reduce waste and protect the environment, many organizations and individuals have launched recycling and reuse campaigns. Here is a list of recycling locations and methods for 7 major organizations in Hong Kong. See details! 

Hong Kong United – After the Chinese New Year, recycle festive food, gift boxes, and even festive citrus and flower plants to contribute to protecting the Earth! 

During the Lunar New Year, many families end up with leftover red packets and uneaten festive foods. Instead of storing them at home or throwing them away, they can be recycled to help those in need! This year, several environmental organizations are hosting recycling activities for festive gift boxes and red packets, setting up collection points across Hong Kong for the convenience of citizens. Below is a list of 6 major Chinese New Year gifts and red packets recycling locations and methods, so that we can all build a green New Year together!

The new Policy Address will be released in October. The Food Commons Foundation suggests that the government expand the coverage of food recovery, strengthen cooperation with non-profit organizations, ensure that surplus food can be delivered to those in need in a timely manner, and reduce food waste. Additionally, the Foundation proposes installing smart food waste recycling bins in public housing estates and private residential areas, as well as establishing a corporate food-saving incentive program to recognize companies that reduce food waste.

From June 18 to July 15, the Food Commons Foundation, along with community organizations, surveyed 307 citizens who benefited from surplus food sharing. Nearly 80% of respondents were 60 years old or above, reflecting the urgent need for food sharing programs among the elderly. 67% of respondents received surplus food 1-2 times per week, while 21% received it 5 days a week, indicating a stable demand for food sharing in society.

About 3,000 tonnes of food waste is discarded in Hong Kong every day. While most of them are still edible, they are sent to landfills. However, in the community, there are over a million elderly or grassroots people who do not have enough food to eat. Excessive leftover food leads to wastage and increases the load in landfills. A series of problems caused by food waste have a wide impact on the economy, people’s livelihood, environmental pollution and social development. In view of this, Food Commons Foundation’s Food Sharing Action was officially launched in 2009. It is the first food sharing action in Hong Kong that combines environmental protection and community mutual assistance. With a focus on the community, it connects groups from different districts to establish a resource network that can tackle the problem of food waste. 

你知道香港每天浪費多少噸可食用食物嗎？你知道在龐大浪費的現況下，香港每天又有多少人仍然食不果腹？

Food Commons Foundation共享食物基金會在2009年時發現了這個社會問題，並持續從各大街市食肆回收食物，再免費分配給有需要人士，至今已是第十四個年頭。